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Reviews For Lily's Charm: The Gift
I feel badly for Harry. He still seems so lost and vulnerable right now. He's so sorry for anything he's done to hurt his loved ones, even though he seems unsure about some of it. He's not going to let himself off even though he really has no reason to feel guilty and no one else wants him to blame himself. He still seems to feel so unworthy of being loved, or at least unconditionally loved. It's as if he still thinks he has to earn it, and if he messes up, then people, especially Severus, will stop loving him. I was going to say that he doesn't understand unconditional love, but that isn't exactly true. I think Harry loves others unconditionally, but he doesn't see himself as having it from them. Poor kid. I really hope his father and the others can get through to him. He needs to know, and really understand, how they feel about him, too. I felt badly for Severus. He's trying to hard to reassure Harry, but I'm not sure he's gotten through to him yet...maybe a bit towards the end. But mostly, I felt so badly for Sirius. In a very real way, he's lost Harry. He's got to accept Severus' place in Harry's life now, and it's going to be very hard for him to 'step aside'. Now, I do think that eventually it could all work out for the best, and Sirius might find that it's even better. Instead of it being just him and Harry, their family has grown and there's more people to love, and be loved by, than when it was just the two of them. I really hope it can work out that way for them all. But it's going to take a while before Sirius can see it that way (if that's how it's going to work out in the end, that is...you may have something completely different in mind). For now, Sirius has to see this relationship between Severus and Harry as a loss and not a gain. And that's got to hurt him, because whatever his faults, he truly loves Harry and wants to be his 'father'. I know Harry feels great love and loyalty for Severus, and that's as it should be. I don't fault him for what he said at the end...and being resentful that Sirius hates his dad. Besides his feelings for Severus, he's just come out of a truly hellish experience, had some big shocks, and he needs time to rest and recover, But I do hope that once Harry's had a little time to think about it clearly, that he'll see that he's being unfair to Sirius about this. After all, the last Sirius knew, Severus was being a cruel git to Harry, and Harry despised him too. Harry's got to remember that Sirius hasn't been around for the past few months to see how much everything has changed. And as for the old enmity between Sirius and Severus...well, it goes far back and I imagine there's some guilt on both sides there. Well, I suppose I'll just have to wait and see. Now I can't decide if I'm more eager for the next chapter for this one, or for 'Crucio'! They're both amazing stories!
Author's Response: Thanks Keina! Glad you enjoyed it. :o)
Author's Response: Me too! It was a fun chapter. Glad you liked it. :o)
I loved how both Sev and Sirius had to hold themselves in check when the other was holding Harry. And I loved Sev's gestures with HArry's hair...just as if he was a little boy with a fever. It's almost as if Sev is making up for all the times he missed when HArry WAS a little boy. All the times he missed touching him. And of course, he wants to reassure himself that his son is a warm, living person again. And I love the scene where Sev asked HArry if he knew how much he loved him? The fact that it was a question and not a statement made it that much more sincere for Harry I think. But just as we chatted about, I think Sev finally does get it that Harry loves him unconditionally. And he didn't even turn around and poke his tongue out at Sirius and say 'nah nah, nah nah nah'! And who knows, maybe Sirius will grow up IF he realises that he may lose HArry totally if he doesn't smarten up his ideas. There will never be friendship between Sev and Siri, but tolerance from each for the other would be nice. Can even Harry Potter bring the two enemies to an understanding? At the end, where HArry says,'he hated you' in such a disappointed way...well, can't he see that Sev also hates Sirius? But Sev is his father and he isn't going to chose Sirius over Sev. I suppose Sirius would be feeling very bitter to see just how much HArry does love Severus after he was treated so badly for all of those years. Thanks for a wonderful chapter. And I will definitely be joining you for the next chapter...was there any question. I hope we see a little Ginny too though. ~Lesley~ Author's Response: Ginny will be around next chapter for sure. Ron and Hermione as well. In answer to your question about can't Harry see how much Sev hates Sirius...no, Harry can't see that right now. Through the chapter, Harry was watching Severus' reactions to Sirius and Severus never so much as frowned. And Harry is very protective of his father, especially in the state of mind he's in. He doesn't see Severus as Snape anymore. He's not the same person he once was. Sirius, on the other hand was scowling and reacting badly to hearing Harry called Mr. Snape. Of course, we don't blame Sirius for this, but Harry is afraid that Sirius will try to get Severus out of the picture. And, in canon, remember that Harry was very, very upset over the the way Sirius and James treated Severus, and Harry didn't even like Severus then! Harry and Sev are close now. Much closer than Sirius and Harry were ever allowed to be. Even Remus and Harry are closer than Sirius and Harry. It's not ideal for Sirius, but there's really no other way it couuld have played out. Remus and Sev have been through too much with Harry not to have an edge over Sirius. And Sirius hated (in Harry's mind) Severus for no good reason. Those two have a lot to talk about. Yes Sirius is bitter. And he should be. He has had no time to come to terms with this. But hey, we still have chapters and chapters to go. And you're right. Sev and Sirius will never be buds. LOL And yep, Severus gets it now. Sirius, Harry's beloved godfather, has returned from the dead, and all Harry can think about is making sure he and dad are okay. Severus would have to be blind not to see that Harry ain't going anywhere. Hence, the reawakening in his eyes, and of his soul. He's got his boy. And that's all he needs to know. :o)
*facepalms* But dang, this was a wonderful chapter. I loved how Sirius and Severus were both jealous as they watched each other interact with Harry. But again, you've highlighted the more mature side of each man and I was thrilled that each allowed the other his time. It shows how much they both love Harry. As much as Sirius doesn't like it, he realizes that Severus is Harry's father, and Harry has learned to care about him as well. Same deal with Sev. Brilliant little...I dunno what you would call it...but it was purely brilliant. :-) Severus' declaration of his love for Harry was so well done but not overly sweet, and I've always appreciated that about your tender scenes. I dunno why, but I loved how Severus kept his hand on Harry's hair while he was waking up. Finally, I'm glad you've made Harry conflicted. I can't stand it when everything is just lovely somehow and everyone skips down the hallway arm-in-arm. It's only natural that he'd feel a little strange over Sirius' return. By the way, if you ever would want to attempt it, I think you'd write your own Sirius/Harry story very masterfully. You should try it. Siriusly. LOL. Forgive me, I haven't used that expression in years. *deep sigh* I loved this chapter, but then again, I don't think there's been anything you've written that I haven't been enamored with. Can't wait for more (of either story)! Author's Response: You know, I wasn't really trying to be all emotional in this chapter. I don't really know how it happened. It just sorta ran away with me, I guess. It was a fun one though. I think it's my fave now. I did like to have Severus physcially aware of Harry's presence throughout. Like he was making sure he really was solid. You know? I can't stand too fast lovliness either! Irks me, it does. Harry is definitely in an odd place. And he doesn't know what to do with all this conflict. LOL He'll work on it though. He and Sirius are up for a nice long chater next up. It'll definitely take a few chapters to get it all ironed out. Enamored? Wow. I AM good. LOL Thanks Jade, for the review. You are the best. :o)
Looks like Severus is OK, but I think Sirius is in for a shock. Poor guy. comes back to life and finds out that the whole world has changed in just a few months. Author's Response: Thanks Mom. Knew you'd like that one. :oP Yep, Sirius is not doing so great, I'll tell ya that. Ah well. It wouldn't be LC without a bucketload of angst coming at you from all directiions, eh?
(I have a new favorite chapter. I'm sure I'm over my quota now). It was fascinating to watch the chapter start from Sirius' POV. The control he had to maintain to not just immediately jump over and show himself to Harry had to be huge. And the poor guy - it has to be quite surreal to watch Severus and Harry interact. He did get to witness Severus being so tender with Harry (and I've got more to say on that) and I hope it's the start of a change of perspective on Severus so Sirius can accept him as Harry's dad. And I got very teary-eyed when Sirius did come out of the background to show Harry he was alive. In his hug and his words, his love for Harry was so palpable. And poor Harry, so entirely conflicted about his presence there, all because of his deep love for Severus. Dancing indeed....are they waltzing or tango-ing? But hands down, the thing I loved most about this chapter was Severus and Harry conversing. Those have always been my favorite parts of all these chapters, but their dialogue from beginning to end moved me in so many ways. I'm glad Severus decided to "not go quietly" where Sirius is concerned (and we all know Harry wouldn't have let him anyway). But it wasn't just the soft, deeply heart felt words to Harry that Severus spoke that moved me, it was his actions as well. He always had to have a hand on Harry in some fashion, whether it be carding his fingers through his hair or holding his hand or his chin....it's as though through touch he could truly believe he hadn't lost Harry. But some of the words spoken to Harry were powerful: “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” his father demanded in a hoarse whisper. and... “I told you once that I would protect you until I no longer had the ability. Nothing has changed.” Get out the tissue box. I needed a couple. Man, I adore it when Sev pronounces his love like that. And they did their fair share of dancng around each other. Harry just isn't able to hear his dad tell him (and he did several times) that he wasn't to blame and that Sev wasn't angry with him. Harry's armor of guilt and shame isn't coming off anytime soon. Harry couldn't even look Remus in the eye. (And what's this cryptic tease about Remus being in for a surprise? We're paying attention to your taunting out here in LC Land...). Harry has a lot of healing left to do, and not the physical kind. Harry's indignation at Severus offering himself up to Voldemort was just downright....cute! I don't know how else to describe it. And Severus being all amused at him over it. But his comment about Sirius and Remus not allowing Harry out of their sight to go find Severus in that event seemed to make Harry very uncomfortable, as we saw when he looked over at Sirius. With that resentful statement about Sirius closing the chapter, is Harry harboring some fear that Sirius might try and take Harry from Severus? I know Sirius is probably going to deserve whatever Harry dishes out verbally next chapter, but I still can't help but feel sorry for him a bit in advance. I also don't think Severus or Poppy is going to let out Harry out of bed for the next month (exaggerating, of course) or that Severus is going to leave Harry's side for one frickin' minute. He will have to sleep at some point, so I don't know how Sev is going to manage this feat. For all the "dancing" I must say that this chapter (especially the Sev and Harry moments) left me with the warm fuzzies so deeply I'm sweating here. Hug, hug....who gets the hug? Harry got two hugs in this chapter already. Maybe this one's for Sev for all he did to get his son back home. He deserves it big time. Author's Response: Well, I have to say that lots of this chapter angst is all because of you. You inspired a lot of the last bit. And so I'm glad you liked it. It definitely was an angsty chapter. Love them that way though. Yes, I do think that Harry is a mite worried that Sirius will try to get Harry away from Severus. I think Sirius' hatred of Sev is much more palpable, even though Severus really has the same amount of hate. Sev just hides it better. Mostly cause he knows it will make Harry unhappy. Severus too has accepted the idea of Sirius. He knows how much Harry loves Sirius. Whearas Sirius can't understand how much he loves Sev. So yep, Sirius ends up looking like the bad guy here. Not his fault really, but there you go. As for Harry's anger, it is justifiable because it's on Sev's behalf. And no matter that it was when he was a kid, Sirius has some explaining to do. LOL No, Sev is not too game to let Harry out of his sight. I am so glad, by the way that you liked Sev's hand always on Harry. It was a little detail, but I'm glad you 'got' it. He's really trying to convince himself that Harry's whole. Yep. So sweet... Those two lines are my favorites as well. YAY :o) |
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